Ink on paper

None.

The individual (presumably a Chief, given the information that "it was his people that suffered") named "the pipe." At the end of the letter, the author refers to a chance to make peace. Perhaps "the pipe" is a metaphorical name for a Chief recognized as critical to the successful establishment of peaceful nation to nation relations.

The author has just left Pittsburg. He expresses his concern at having heard that he has fallen into disfavour with the Dellewers/Dellewars and has also heard that he will be put to death at the first opportunity. He feels they have irrationally judged him with respect to the murder of some Indians at Beaver Creek since he did not even know of the attack resulting in the deaths. It is also indicated that Captain Bready was to be tried for the murder. The document does not indicate what became of Captain Bready. Significantly, the author notes that he undertook a journey regardless of the increased risk to be at the treaty. He says "I expect to be at the treaty & am in hope that I will be able to be more useful to the indians than at former treatys." He asks McKee to forward this information onto someone he refers to as "the pipe," whose people, he notes, are the ones who suffered (presumably with respect to the murders). He also thanks Mr. and Miss Geaden for delivering an amendment to McKee.

Date given in document.

Letter from [illegible] to Alexander McKee, 12 June 1793. Currently in Library and Archives Canada. Claus Papers, Vol. 5 (M.G. 19, F1) reel C1479, pp. 155-156. Item described as part of a GRASAC research project, summer 2010, and consulted. https://gks.grasac.org/ (GKS ID: 573, accessed [date]).

Created by Research Assistant Aaron Mills during the first summer of the SSHRC Aboriginal Research Grant 2007 to 2010

Record reviewed by Research Assistant Jessica Ye during the winter of 2021